Running Barefoot Blunts Foot's Force

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Everyone should run/walk/jog/pace/strut and so on barefoot.
It is very ethical that we should all do this.
It will be better for us and our planet.
I think it should be illegal for people to wear shoes at anytime.
I think that shoes should be banned from the whole world.
Running barefoot is sweet!
you should try it sometime!!!

Ralph Reddings of NE 1:44PM February 09, 2010

I’m an orthopedic surgeon and runner. I have been advocating barefoot or minimalist-shoe running for years. I wrote an article on the topic that has garnered quite a bit of attention. See: http://www.quickswood.com/my_weblog/2006/08/athletic_footwe.html#more
Cheers and happy running.

Joseph Froncioni 3:54PM February 07, 2010

Kenyans do seem to always win marathons, but who knows if this is because they run barefoot? Maybe they practice long distance running, and don't see a need for the speed in short races. It's not like they need to run from a leopard - the leopard will always win.

veggiedude of CA 1:35AM January 31, 2010

What I find interesting in Lieberman's study is that (paraphrasing) the kinematics of toe-heel-toe motion while running barefoot leads to increased rotational force transmitting the impact from a vertical to rotational force eliminating the impact transient. This makes me think that this increased rotational force requires increased flexibility of the lower leg muscles, fascia, etc. making it important not to overlook the need to regain this flexibility. Therefore, treading lightly until your muscles/ tendons have a chance to adapt would be wise advice.

notquitekenyan of NH 9:54PM January 30, 2010

I ran Marathons in my 30's (training 100 miles/week) and up to 60 years old ran 5 miles/day-- I'm now 64 and arthritis in right foot and knee have cut me down to 2 miles when I can run at all--even this requires 3-4 Ibuprofen tablets. For the last month and a half, I've been running 2.5 miles every day without the Ibuprofen. My knee and foot are more flexible and pain is reduced to the vanishing point. As an engineer, I see the foot's arch as a spring that reduces the shock transmitted to the knee. I also wonder why we need foam rubber now after millenia without it!

Lance Koll of WI 9:00PM January 28, 2010

I tend to disagree! If not wearing shoues had advantages, then Kenyans would be winning all kind of races. Jamaicans and Americans are better short distance runners than Kenyans.

James of GA 4:35PM January 28, 2010

This subject was covered extensively in the 80's focusing on indigenous populations in the Mexican badlands who use sandals with tire treads whilst covering vast distances (or East Africans on the high plateaus). It's important to note that given a shoe contract world class distance runners choose proper shoes (race flats). If you attempt training on asphalt barefooted or with minimal coverage and your biomechanics are inefficient to begin with, you risk repetitive use and structural damage. Heelstrikers are non-athletes who take up the sport without being conscious of both achieving fitness first and learning proper technique. The shoe companies take advantage of this by charging $140 for giant wedges of cushioning that in turn further characterize heel first, low turnover. The answer most likely is moderate cushioning combined with some barefoot training to gain a better understanding of technique while conditioning the foot structures to deal with a controlled foot-fall combined with proper hip rotation.

Chris Schachter of NY 2:25PM January 28, 2010

Our ancestors, the homo sapien, survived only by hunting down their preys. Running them down for days. They had no weapons for thousand of years and we know they were eating meat.
Running is natural for us, that is bare foot running.
The invention if these cushioned shoes had just contributed in more injuries. There were invented and designed without any scientific researches. We do not need a heel cushion because we are not supposed to land on the heels. The impact forces are too great.
Since I have started running bare foot, I feel liberated and I can run for hours once you retrain your calf muscles.
Every body should try but keep the transition from shoes to bare feet slow and progressive.

CB of VA 2:06PM January 28, 2010

... on a field?

DC of NY 1:21PM January 28, 2010

I started only in forest peserve on grassy or soil trails with a few rocks. Now I can do the concrete and black top because now I know what my feet can take and what I should avoid. Running almost barefoot has made me look down more. (I have kicked a couple logs that I wasn't paying attention to)

Ross of IL 12:56PM January 28, 2010